When my daughter was 4 ½ her greatly anticipated Christmas gift was a pair of plastic safety goggles and a Mind Blowing Science kit. Fast-forward a year and a half and a few dozen Steve Spangler episodes on youtube and she’s pretty confident that any opportunity is a good one to test the laws of science.
Why limit yourself to a beaker and a test tube when you can use an empty bathtub at a friend’s house and a full bottle of shampoo? All in the name of science! So it was fitting that we … [Read more...]

Spring and new life go hand in hand. With the buds on the trees and the flowers peeking up through the soil it seems like the whole world is starting to wake up.
So when HGTV Gardens asked me to create a Spring Baby Shower table setting the first thing that came into my mind was celebrating new life and the joy of 'nesting'. … [Read more...]

Does anyone else find themselves feeling so smug as you get everything checked off your grocery list for upcoming holiday meals only to get home and realize that while you may have the ingredients for a grand meal in a few days, somehow you've managed to make it home from the store without putting anything in your cart for the dinners you are expected to prepare leading up to that day! … [Read more...]

"For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when it's mighty Founder was a child Himself." ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
This past weekend was one of those weekends that you remember for years to come. Not because anything especially spectacular happened. In fact, it felt so incredibly ordinary. And yet there was also something extraordinary about it.
What would seem like a lot of 'nothing' to some, felt like a whole lot of 'something' to us. … [Read more...]

We've taken a vote on something. And since there are only two of us and we both voted 'yes' that means that it's unanimous and our voices MUST be heard.
What did we vote on, you ask?
Well, we have decided that each state should get to determine when their summer break will take place.
For example, in Oregon summer break should be July, August and September instead of June, July and August. Because June is the month where Oregon still can't make up it's mind whether it's Spring or Summer … [Read more...]

My daughter has yet to meet a dog without some redeemable quality. Every dog regardless of pedigree, grooming, or personality is either the cutest, sweetest, or smartest dog on earth. And if they’re not, well, it’s not their fault and they deserve an extra dose of love and affection. … [Read more...]

It's time for another Take Five: Five Minute Craft!
One of the most frugal and fun ways to decorate your table for the summer holidays is using recycled bottles! The options are endless with the myriad of paint colors and craft supplies available.
I chose a classic patriotic “red, white and blue” color scheme for my recycled bottle centerpiece!
This little centerpiece project couldn’t be easier to make, I was able to whip this up for a patriotic tablescape in no time! … [Read more...]

At some point over the past year, my son fell in love with Chronicles of Narnia. One day he’ll claim to be Peter Pevensie, the next he begs to officially change his name to Caspian.
I am forever cast as the White Witch and his two sisters willingly play along as Susan & Lucy. When deciding on a theme for his 5th birthday, Narnia was the only option in his mind. His birthday is just days before Halloween so it was the perfect occasion to get into character. … [Read more...]

I'm often asked how I would "define my style." I've always had a hard time putting my style into words. I love a little glitz and glamour combined with some fun pops of color all against a white background.
Think deer antlers….gilded in gold.
a disco ball propped up against a mirrored tree stand. A family heirloom made over in electric blue! A fur throw over a navy velvet chair.
Are you getting the idea?
So when I saw the Home Goods Stylescope Quiz I was excited to actually … [Read more...]

One of my favorite things about having an 8 year old is how her interests and tastes have begun to influence mine. She’s reading cool classic Nancy Drew books (which I never read as a kid), introducing me to music that I totally love, and her favorite colors inspired a room re-do in our house.
She has also developed a pretty clear vision for what she wants in a party and this year’s vision called for a summery picnic with turquoise and yellow decorations, a mystery to solve, and a … [Read more...]